Endogenous AICAR (Acadesine) demonstrates significant therapeutic potential as a phase III clinical agent for the treatment of adverse cardiovascular reactions to coronary artery bypass grafting and as a phase I/II clinical agent for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, its biosynthetic mechanism remains poorly defined. Previous study demonstrated that AICAR was significantly enriched in the Fusarium solani mutant veA^OE14, which overexpressed the global regulator VeA. In May 2025, the research team led by Professor Jichuan Kang from the Engineering and Research Center for Southwest Biopharmaceutical Resource of National Education Ministry of China, Guizhou University, published a research paper titled “MtfA, a C2H2 transcriptional regulator, negatively regulates PRPS2-mediated biosynthesis of the adenosine analogue Acadesine in Fusarium solani” in the journal Mycology.

This study elucidated, at the molecular level, the regulatory mechanism by which VeA overexpression enhances AICAR production in Fusarium solani. The team established a three-tier regulatory network model (VeA-MtfA-PRPS2) (Figure 1), laying an important foundation for the engineering of filamentous fungal strains for AICAR biosynthesis.

Problems with cranial base growth, which supports the skull’s structure, can lead to several chronic conditions of the face and upper airway. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating this process remain poorly understood. In a recent study, researchers from the United States use a sophisticated mouse model to understand the role of RUNX2, a master regulator protein, in cranial base growth. Their findings offer new insights into craniofacial malformations and may contribute to identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Edible yeast Candida utilis can produce high-quality protein using DHA with 60.1% protein content at rapid growth rates, supporting sustainable feed and food supply.

A novel gas-lift reactor successfully improved the production efficiency of hydrogen oxidizing bacteria single cell protein, providing a new solution for sustainable biomanufacturing.

A team led by Prof. Zhenke Zhu from Ningbo University analyzed 261 soil samples across China to systematically compare the impacts of different legume crop rotations on soil properties and microbial communities, revealing the unique advantages of faba bean (Vicia faba) rotation in enhancing soil multifunctionality and its microbial-driven mechanisms. The relevant paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025604).

A study published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2024598) by Vipul Kumar from Lovely Professional University, India, and Rachid Lahlali from the National School of Agriculture of Meknès, Morocco, provides an answer to this question.